Struggling Express face acid test vs streaking Texters

It’s a short lived celebration as far as Air21 is concerned.

Two days after ending a franchise-worst nine-game losing skein, the Express are again courting trouble as they are facing no less than the hot-streaking Talk `N Text Tropang Texters in one of Friday’s PBA Fiesta Cup scheduled doubleheader at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Only last Wednesday, the Express watched in horror as they lost a big 31-point, first-half lead against Barako Coffee and had to rely on a misfired potential game-winning jumper by Aries Dimaunahan in the endgame to eke out a tense 99-98 win.

It was only the second win in 12 games for Air21.

As if that’s not enough, the Express now have to cope up with the mean task of beating a Tropang Texters side, described by coach Yeng Guiao as the “strongest team on paper" that has been on a roll of late.

Talk `N Text is at second spot with a 9-2 card and will be shooting for a franchise-record ninth straight win.

A victory by the Tropang Texters in the 5 p.m. game will have them tying defending champion San Miguel on top of the standings and matching the Beermen’s tournament-best nine-game winning run.

Talk `N Text’s record for the longest winning streak in franchise history came in the 2002 Governor’s Cup when it strung up eight straight wins under American coach Bill Bayno.

Guiao believes the Express have a shot against the Tropang Texters, but first need to learn how to close out games in their bid to pull off an upset.

“Yesterday, that was the topic of our discussion during practice. We’re going to play the strongest team on paper and we need to be able to close out games," he said, recalling how his team blew a 31-point lead and nearly yielded the match to the Energy Coffee Masters, who played the final eight minutes of the game minus import Sam Monroe.

“We needed a 31-point lead and for their import to foul out for us to win by one point," added Guiao. “The most important thing for us is to close out well in every quarter."

Meanwhile, the 7:30 p.m. main game features two teams that took center stage in last conference’s finale – the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados and the Alaska Aces.

This will be the second time these two teams will meet this conference.

The Aces edged the Llamados in their first meeting, 86-84, a game which saw Alaska with Willie Miller still around and Purefoods then reinforced by Lorenzo Wade.

Miller was traded to Barangay Ginebra for Cyrus Baguio and Wade replaced by Cliff Brown.

“So the dynamics has changed for both teams," admitted Alaska’s Tim Cone. “We feel, as a team, we’ve been making strides forward and we’re developing, although we did take a step backwards against Ginebra. We hope to start moving forward again against Derby Ace."

The Llamados have a 7-4 record and are looking to tie Barangay Ginebra once again in third place with a win over the Aces.

Alaska, on the other hand, is fighting for a spot to make the quarterfinals outright and is out to improve its 6-5 card.

The Aces, however, are coming off a 105-93 loss to Barangay Ginebra in Cebu City last Saturday, which saw them bungled a 12-point lead early in the final period before losing.